At 3:00pm, Thursday, February 27th, 2003, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report. The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday nights, unless an unusual bird turns up in the Hamilton area.
This very wintery week was punctuated by frigid cold temperatures and a significant snowfall over the weekend. In spite of the deep freeze, many hardy birders submitted reports. Winter is a great time to search for owls. This past week LONG-EARED OWLS were found on the Pinetum Trail at RBG and in the campground at Bronte Provincial Park. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was discovered at Selkirk Provincial Park, and no less than 26 SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported from the 6th Concession in Fisherville. Waterfowl sightings were plenty. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and BLACK SCOTER were seen from the Travelodge in Burlington. RED-THROATED LOON, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, COMMON GOLDENEYE, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and BLACK SCOTER were all reported from Hamilton Harbour, while HORNED GREBE, TRUMPETER SWAN, GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, COMMON MERGANSER, HOODED MERGANSER, REDHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, WOOD DUCK, and NORTHERN PINTAIL were seen in the Desjardins Canal. Other local reports include BROWN THRASHER at Valley Inn, CAROLINA WREN in a Caledonia yard, and COOPER'S HAWK in downtown Hamilton. GRAY PARTRIDGE were reported from two locations this past week: Brantford Airport and the 13th Concession of Walpole just west of Sandusk Road. HORNED LARK and SNOW BUNTING were also seen at the Brantford Airport. Officially, there are three more weeks until spring. To give you some hope in the remaining cold days to come, the following spring migrants were seen at Point Pelee this past week: SNOW GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, GRACKLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and AMERICAN ROBIN. Be sure to let us know about your sightings this week. Leave your name, telephone number, as well as the time and date of your call. Sightings can also be reported by e-mail. GOOD BIRDING! Keith Dieroff C/O Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report Hamilton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hamilton Naturalists' Club Tel: (905) 381-0329 www.hamiltonnature.org ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca Keith Dieroff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
